Ahmad Moftizadeh: Difference between revisions
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'''Ahmad Moftizadeh''' was the nationalist and Islamist leader of a segment of Kurds during the [[Iranian Revolution|Iranian/Islamic Revolution]] of 1979 in [[Iran]]. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential Sunni personalities in Iran. He was the son of the Mufti leader of Iranian Kurdistan, or the religious leader of the region, but decided against assuming the clerical robe in the same capacity as his father. He was based in [[Sanandaj]], Iran, where he was imprisoned during the Shah's reign for opposition to the Shah's rule. During the build up to the Iranian Revolution, he supported the notion of a unified Islamic and democratic state, with autonomy for the Kurdish people. He preached non-violence continually in response to infighting in the Kurdish region in Iran. After discussions with [[Khomeini]] through intermediaries, he was reported to have said that the "guarantee of autonomy for the Kurds is in my pocket". As a leader of a large segment of his home city of Sanandaj in Iran, he drew opposition from communist groups early on for supporting the notion of an Islamic state. His supporters supported a peaceful dialogue, and were reportedly driven out of Sanandaj during the course of the Revolutionary uprisings by acts of terror on behalf of communists and marxist-Islamists. |
'''Ahmad Moftizadeh''' was the nationalist and Islamist leader of a segment of Kurds during the [[Iranian Revolution|Iranian/Islamic Revolution]] of 1979 in [[Iran]]. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential Sunni personalities in Iran. He was the son of the Mufti leader of Iranian Kurdistan, or the religious leader of the region, but decided against assuming the clerical robe in the same capacity as his father. He was based in [[Sanandaj]], Iran, where he was imprisoned during the Shah's reign for opposition to the Shah's rule. During the build up to the Iranian Revolution, he supported the notion of a unified Islamic and democratic state, with autonomy for the Kurdish people. He preached non-violence continually in response to infighting in the Kurdish region in Iran. After discussions with [[Khomeini]] through intermediaries, he was reported to have said that the "guarantee of autonomy for the Kurds is in my pocket". As a leader of a large segment of his home city of Sanandaj in Iran, he drew opposition from communist groups early on for supporting the notion of an Islamic state. His supporters supported a peaceful dialogue, and were reportedly driven out of Sanandaj during the course of the Revolutionary uprisings by acts of terror on behalf of communists and marxist-Islamists. |
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Revision as of 08:18, 30 July 2009
Ahmad Moftizadeh was the nationalist and Islamist leader of a segment of Kurds during the Iranian/Islamic Revolution of 1979 in Iran. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential Sunni personalities in Iran. He was the son of the Mufti leader of Iranian Kurdistan, or the religious leader of the region, but decided against assuming the clerical robe in the same capacity as his father. He was based in Sanandaj, Iran, where he was imprisoned during the Shah's reign for opposition to the Shah's rule. During the build up to the Iranian Revolution, he supported the notion of a unified Islamic and democratic state, with autonomy for the Kurdish people. He preached non-violence continually in response to infighting in the Kurdish region in Iran. After discussions with Khomeini through intermediaries, he was reported to have said that the "guarantee of autonomy for the Kurds is in my pocket". As a leader of a large segment of his home city of Sanandaj in Iran, he drew opposition from communist groups early on for supporting the notion of an Islamic state. His supporters supported a peaceful dialogue, and were reportedly driven out of Sanandaj during the course of the Revolutionary uprisings by acts of terror on behalf of communists and marxist-Islamists.
Within three years of the revolution, Ahmad Moftizadeh had announced that his agreements with the new government were violated, and that he no longer supported the Islamic State. With Khomeini thus making his intentions for Kurdistan clear, Muftizadeh saw no option but to resign from the consultative body of which he had been a member and founded the Central Consultative Council for the Ahl as-Sunnah (Majlis ash-Shura al-Markazi li-Ahl as-Sunnah). On the 10th of Dhul Qa‘dah 1404 (1984) he was arrested. He was kept in prison for over ten years.
He was placed in jail as a political prisoner. He reportedly suffered much torture during his imprisonment. Just two weeks after his release from prison, he died. It is alleged that Moftizadeh, tall in height, was pushed through a doorway while blindfolded, breaking his neck. This was the precursor to his passing.
Due to the complicated and factional nature of Iranian Kurdistan during the Iranian Revolution, Moftizadeh continues to be revered by some and disliked by others. He is known by most, however, is an unrelenting and honest man who believed in Kurds and the Kurdish people's aspirations in Iran.